The 20 Best Places to Visit in February Around the World

Posted by Doug Murray on January 31, 2019

February may be the shortest month, but it often feels like the longest. The festive season is over, everyone is back in the daily grind and it seems like winter will never end. However, if you look hard enough, you’ll find that February is actually a month full of celebrations, from the raucous to the romantic. It’s also the month of love, so it’s the perfect time for a getaway, whether it’s with a partner or in search of your soulmate. Need inspiration? Here are the 20 best places to visit in February around the world.

Getty Images

1 of 20

1. Hainan, China

In mid-winter, Harbin celebrates its status as one of the coldest places in China, making it one of the best places to visit in January. Come February, though, you might want to visit China’s southernmost province. Hainan is known for its islands and tropical beaches. While February sees chilly nights, it’s also the sunniest month in Hainan, so you can work on that tan.

Getty Images

2 of 20

2. Hong Kong, China

Chinese New Year falls on February 6 this year and nowhere celebrates with more gusto than Hong Kong. The festivities last from January 30 to February 19 and, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, they include a night parade on February 5, race day on February 7, a temple fair from February 15 to 18, the a well-wishing festival from February 5 to March 3, and of course, the fireworks over the harbour on February 6. It may be one of the world’s most expensive cities but it’s definitely one of the most colourful this time of year.

Getty Images

3 of 20

3. Pingxi District, Taiwan

On February 19, the 15th day of the new lunar month, Taiwan celebrates with lantern festivals. The most spectacular of these is the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, held in the village of Shifen in the Pingxi District. You can join in the action by decorating a huge paper lantern of your own, adding your wishes for the new year and releasing it along with hundreds of others to light up the night sky.

Getty Images

4 of 20

4. Agra, India

The Hindu festival of Holi will make Indian destinations some of the best places to visit in March. First, however, there’s Valentine’s Day and where better to celebrate than at the ultimate monument to love? Even if hundreds of other couples have the same idea, the grounds at the Taj Mahal are so expansive that you’ll easily find a quiet nook where you can admire this stunning building or gaze into each other’s eyes.

Getty Images

5 of 20

5. Bogotá, Colombia

You can spend a fortune on roses at your local florist for Valentine’s Day or you can go straight to the source and get a holiday to boot. Bogotá is still a little chilly in February, but there’s a lot going on in the city this time of year, including fashion events and bullfighting. It’s the area outside of the city you want to see, though. This is where you’ll find the flower farms where all those Valentine’s blooms are grown.

Getty Images

6 of 20

6. Guadeloupe

There are many great places to attend Carnival, but in Guadeloupe, the festivities last for more than just a few days. In fact, the party starts on January 1 and lasts throughout February to March 6. Expect parades and processions, singing and dancing contests and much more, all in an idyllic Caribbean setting.

Getty Images

7 of 20

7. Venice, Italy

There are two great reasons to come to Venice in February. The first is that it’s one of the most romantic cities to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The second is the excuse for dressing up, putting on a mask and joining the Venice Carnival festivities. This year, Carnival in Venice starts on February 16 and lasts until March 5.

Getty Images

8 of 20

8. Maui, Hawaii

If the winter weather is giving you cabin fever, prepare your Hawaii packing list and head to Maui. The weather is warm even if there could be some rain and the beaches are gorgeous. While the crowds haven’t arrived yet, the whales have: February is peak season for humpback whales in the waters around Maui.

Getty Images

9 of 20

9. Sydney, Australia

You don’t have to be LGBTQ to join in the event on Sydney’s social calendar, but you do need your dancing shoes and some party spirit. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras starts on February 15 and lasts until March 3 this year. Parties, costumed balls, concerts, art exhibits and burlesque are just some of the many activities that make up this most fabulous event.

Getty Images

10 of 20

10. Porto, Portugal

If you love fantasy film, there’s only one place to be in February: from February 22 to March 2, the city of Porto hosts Fantasporto, an international film festival where fantasy is the name of the game. Sci-fi and horror movies get a screening too: after all, 2018’s winning entry was Canadian zombie movie Ravenous. February weather in Porto can be chilly, although not nearly as bad as in the Canadian cities with the worst winters. Then again, Porto is the birthplace of sweet, warming port wine.

Getty Images

11 of 20

11. Tucson, Arizona

The month of love is just the time to look for that perfect stone to celebrate your relationship and the best place to start your search is at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. It’s the oldest and largest event of its kind in the world and this year it’s held from February 14 to 17. The city also hosts the Tucson Desert Song Festival from January 25 to February 5, the Tucson Rodeo from February 16 to 24 and the Cologuard Classic PGA Tour Champions from February 27 to March 3.

Getty Images

12 of 20

12. San Antonio, Texas

Stampede makes Calgary one of the best places to visit in July, but if you can’t wait that long to get your cowgirl boots on, San Antonio is a great place to be in February. The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo takes place from February 7 to 24 and is proof that everything is bigger in Texas. Some of the stars who will be performing at the event include Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum and Sammy Hagar and The Circle.

Getty Images

13 of 20

13. Geilo, Norway

When winter gives you snow and ice, why not turn it into music? That’s exactly what happens at the Ice Music Festival in the ski resort town of Geilo. Everything here is made of ice and snow, from the venue to the instruments: ice-harps, ice-trumpets, even ice-didgeridoos. This year’s festival is held from February 14 to 16. Plus you can get in a few runs!

Getty Images

14 of 20

14. Luoping, China

Do you need a break from the monotony of vast expanses of white during the Canadian winter? Then exchange it for vast expanses of yellow. In Luoping County in China’s Yunnan province, February is when the canola blooms and you can see miles and miles of yellow flowers. The area is also home to the Jiulong Waterfalls and the scenic Jinji Peaks.

Getty Images

15 of 20

15. Caye Caulker, Belize

One of the best times to visit Caye Caulker is in February, when the weather is warm and the skies are sunny. This laidback little island has no paved roads, but this doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do here. You can kayak in the mangroves, go sailing at sunset, snorkel with sharks or do your PADI course and dive the Blue Hole. Caye Caulker is also only a hop, skip and jump away from some other hidden gems of Mexico and Central America.

P199/Wikimedia Commons

16 of 20

16. Cochrane, Ontario

From February 8 to 18, Cochrane hosts the Cochrane Winter Carnival and this year’s theme is Hollywood. There’s plenty of family fun to be had here to blow some life into winter: hockey games, a torchlight parade on February 14, snow sculptures, eating contests and, for the bravest of the brave, a polar bear dip on February 16. The kids will love dressing up for the Frozen Fairy Tale Ball on February 9.

Getty Images

17 of 20

17. Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

One of the Canadian towns that fills up with charm during winter is Mont-Tremblant, one of the country’s top ski resorts. Ski season is in full swing, but there’s much more to keep you busy, including the Festival Rando Alpine Tremblant from February 8 to 10 and Washington Week from February 16 to 24.

Getty Images

18 of 20

18. Menton, France

When life gives you lemons, you might as well have a festival. This is what the people of Menton will be doing from February 16 to March 3 this year. The Menton Lemon Festival features lemon-themed parades, art exhibits, sculptures made of citrus fruits and of course plenty of lemony goodies to eat. It’s one of the largest food festivals in France.

Getty Images

19 of 20

19. Riviera Nayarit, Mexico

February is a good time to draw up your Mexico packing list and fly south to the Riviera Nayarit on the Pacific coast. The weather is warm and sunny and perfect for enjoying the beaches. If this isn’t enough to convince you, there’s the Festival Sayulita from January 30 to February 3 and the San Pancho Music Festival from February 22 to 24, not to mention that it’s whale season in these parts in February.

Getty Images

20 of 20

20. Mendoza, Argentina

February is one of the warmest months to visit Mendoza, Argentina’s prime wine-producing region. It’s also filled with events and things to do. For music and dancing there’s the National Tune Festival and Moonfest during the first week of the month. During the last week of February, the town of San Rafael hosts the National Horse Festival. Then there are wine tastings, bike tours and much more to help you discover the best this part of the world has to offer.